ACT Greens Wiki | Constitution / Chapter 6: Other Matters

38. Finance

38.1 The financial year of the Party is the year ending on 30 June.

38.2 The funds of the Party shall be gathered from membership fees, donations and fund-raising activities. The Party shall not pursue any form of fund-raising or income generation, or accept any donations or gifts with or without conditions, which are or might be in conflict with the Charter or policies of the ACT Greens.

38.3 The funds and assets of the ACT Greens shall be applied solely towards achieving the objectives of the Party.

38.4 Donations to the Party in terms of money, goods or services over a minimum amount decided by an Annual General Meeting shall be approved by a General Meeting before being accepted by the Party.

38.5 The details of substantial donations to the Party or candidates in terms of money, goods or services over a minimum amount decided by an Annual General Meeting shall be open to public inspection.

38.6 Expenditure of Party funds shall be approved by a General Meeting either to meet specific costs or as a budget for a particular project, purpose or period approved by the General Meeting.

38.7 Cheques and other financial transactions involving the expenditure of party funds shall be signed by 2 members appointed by a General Meeting.

38.8 Membership fees shall be collected and recorded by the Treasurer and distributed between the National and ACT Greens’ bodies on a basis and in proportions determined by the National Council.

39. Registered Officer Of The ACT Greens

39.1 The duty of the Registered Officer is to nominate to the Electoral Commission the names of ACT Greens’ candidates for ACT Legislative Assembly and Federal elections. The Registered Officer may be an office-bearer.

39.2 The Registered Officer shall also hold. the position and powers of a Deputy Registered. Officer at the national level within the Australian Greens. The Registered Officer shall be accountable to the ACT Greens and Australian Greens to carry out all such duties as set out in the relevant legislation.

39.3 The Registered Officer shall be elected by the Annual General Meeting each year.

39.4 A General Meeting may decide to appoint a Deputy Registered Officer who shall execute the duties of the Registered Officer if the Registered Officer is unable to execute those duties.

40. Public Officer

40.1 The duty of the Public Officer is to exercise the relevant responsibilities specified in the Associations Incorporation Act 1991.

40.2 The Public Officer may be an office-bearer.

40.3 The Public Officer shall be elected by the Annual General Meeting.

40.4 If a Public Officer resigns or is removed from this office, a General Meeting shall appoint a new Public Officer for the period until the next Annual General Meeting.

41. Members’ Liability

41.1 The liability of a member to contribute towards the payment of the debts and liabilities of the Party or the costs, charges, and expenses of winding up the Party is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid by the member in respect of membership of the Party.

42. The Common Seal

42.1 The common seal of the party shall be kept in the custody of the Secretary.

42.2 The fixing of the common seal to any instrument shall be attested by the signatures of two members appointed by a General Meeting.

43. Auditor

43.1 Before the end of the financial, year, a General Meeting shall appoint an Auditor to audit the financial records of the Party for the financial year. The Auditor shall submit a written report to the Coordinating Group for presentation at the next Annual General Meeting.

43.2 The position of Auditor may be honorary or the meeting may determine the sum of an honorarium. The Auditor shall not be a member of the ACT Greens and shall be a qualified accountant.

44. Indemnity

44.1 Members acting on behalf of the ACT Greens with authority of a General Meeting or the Coordinating Group who accept or incur any personal pecuniary liability shall be held indemnified against that personal liability in respect of such action.

45. Constitutional Interpretation and Amendment

45.1 A General Meeting shall interpret the Constitution should a dispute arise over the meaning of any provision. The Coordinating Group may make interpretations on an interim basis until the next General Meeting which shall decide whether to ratify the interpretation.

45.2 A General Meeting has the power to make by-laws that clarify arrangements contained in this Constitution. The Secretary shall keep a register of by-laws.

45.3 If any situation arises that is not covered by this Constitution or where the Constitution cannot be strictly implemented, a General Meeting has the power to decide what action shall be taken to deal with the situation consistent with the objectives and practices of the Party.

45.4 Amendments to this Constitution may be initiated by any General Meeting, or by a petition of the lesser of 20 members or 20% of the membership. A postal ballot of all members shall be held on the proposed amendments only after they are presented and debated at a General Meeting.

45.5 For a postal ballot to be successful, a minimum of 10% of the membership must unanimously vote in favour of the amendment, or a minimum of 20% of the membership and two thirds of those voting must favour the amendment.

46. Dissolution

46.1 The ACT Greens shall not be dissolved except by a resolution of the membership passed in a postal ballot where at least two-thirds of the votes cast favour the resolution and the total number of votes in favour is at least 30% of the membership. The dissolution of the ACT Greens shall be effective within 40 days after the result of the ballot, or whichever day is stipulated by the ballot.

46.2 In the event that the ACT Greens dissolve, the assets of the Party shall be disposed of by the Coordinating Group to firstly discharge any debts or liabilities and secondly to distribute any surplus to the National Council or to organisations which share the principles or objectives of the ACT Greens.